Antiskid-wheel-chain construction



Oct. 30 1923.

Y l. A. WEAVER ANTIsKID WHEEL CHAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed OC'C- 20, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 30., 1923. 1,472,448

l. A. WEAVER ANTISKID WHEEL CHAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 20,A 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N @wmw Patented @cb 30, 1923.

UNITED stares PATEN'E OFFICE.

IRA. A. WEAVER, `OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO XVEAVERMANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION 0I'` ILLINOIS.

ANTISKID-WHEEL-C 'zT a TN CONSTRUCTION.

To 11N whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRA A. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antiskid-Wheel- Chain Constructions, of which the following is a specification. Y

My present invention concerns anti-skid or traction appliances for vehicle-wheels, such as those of automobiles, trucks, and the like.

The leading purpose is the provision of an apparatus of this general type using chains or corresponding elements extendedV across the face of the tire, which are free to creep while in operation thereby securing an even uniform wear on theptire and which when in contact with the road surface or pavement will not slip on the face of the tire. Stated somewhat differently, the prime object of the invention is to provide a chain or similar structure extended across the face of the wheel tire, which will travel with the face of the tire While in contact with the road-way. and which will change its position on the face of the tire before again coming into contact with the surface of the road, thereby evenly distributing the wear over the entire surface of the tire. p

An added feature of this invention is the capability of applying one or more of the chains to the tire without the necessity of jacking up or elevating the wheel or rolling the wheel in relation to the road-way.

A further salient characteristic of the invention, particularly in the line of economy,

is the employment only of short length chains, each chain being an individual unit, so that, n case one breaks or wears out, it will" not affect the action or function of the remaining relatively short chains.

An additional purpose of the invention is to provide an appliance of such structure that the chain or chains will extend across the face of the tire at an angle or diagonally thus bringing about a smoother riding eect and a relatively-large contact with the face of the rubber tire. In the preferred embodiment of the invention one end of 4each cross-chain is secured to a member positively driven by the wheel, but at a speed slightly less than that of the wheel, so that during the revolution of the wheel the'lcross-c'hains will automatically change their positions slightly with respect to the face of the tire.

The other ends of the chains are not posi-V tively driven, and therefore lag back and the chains across the tire referred to above.

In order that those skilled in this art may Y have full and complete understanding of the invention and its various functional advantages I have illustrated in the accompany'ing drawings, forming a part of this specification, a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention and throughout the various views of this drawing like reference characters refer to the same parts.

In such drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of a vehicle-wheel, equipped' `with the improved anti-skid' appliance; and

1 Figure 2 is a substantially-central vertical section on line 2 2 through the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen' that the vehicle or truck wheel with which the novel and improved anti-skid appli-ance is adapted for association is of the usual and customary form and style and comprises a hub 10, radiating spokes 11, 11, a felly i2, a metal rim 13, and a solid, cushion, or pneumatic tire 14;. Secured to the outer face of such spokes, by two U-bolts 15 encircling them, is an armed member or castingl 16 of suitable conformation and having in the present case .two opposite outstanding arms 1? and 18, by means of which the member 16 is fastened to the spokes of the wheel hy the U-bolts referred to. Centrally at 19, that is, concentric with-the laxis of the wheel, this member has a spur-gear with thirty-nine teeth which is centered or positioned coaxially with the wheel, preliminary to the tightening of the vU-bolts 15, by means of two oppositely-disposed adjusting screws 20, 2O taking into threaded sockets 21 in the ends of the diametrically-arranged arms 17 and. 18 with their rounded heads 22 bearing against the inner surface ofthe wheei-felly. Inasmuch as the two wheel spokes, to which such arms are thus fastened are directly opposite one another the members can be fully centered by these twoadjustment screws.

Coacting or intermeshng with this spurgear, which revolves with, or is driven by, the rotating vehicle-wheel, is a ring-gear 23 lthe direction of travel create or result in 2G taking into threaded holes in the member l6. An inclined,at, endless hoop or ring 3() is fastened to, but spaced inwardly away from, the inner face ot -the wheel, ordinarily surrounding the brake-drum 31, by a plurality, of lateral arms or ears 32 'held' against the'wheel spokes by the two U-bolts vand another pair .of like bolts 33V extended through apertured fasteners or plates 34 lrestingagainst the outer faces of the spokes.

The Y'anti-slndor traction chains 40, six in the present case, each has at its end disposed at the inner side of the wheel a hook 41 Vtakingover the'inner or free edge of the supporting ring or hoo-p 30, such securing hooks being capable of sliding along the :ring circumferentially around the wheel.

The other or outer end of each of these chains is detachably fitted with an adjustable clasp or hook 42 of more or less usual constructionV engaging one oiE the eyes or loops 24, these chains desirably being ot such length that they extend more or less diagonally across the face of the rubber tire vals-shown.

The operation of the appliance occurs practically as follows.

l During the rotation of the wheel the diagonally or angularly disposed chains in Ila general way travel with it and function in the usual manner to secure adequate traction and to prevent skidding or slipping. The diagonal or inclined arrangement of the chains relatively to the tire tread or to Y smoother running and easier riding and a than would occur were the chains disposed at right angles across the tace of the tire.

They may be likened kto helical or spiral gears as compared withv ordinary spur-gears.

I Owing to the fact that the ring-gear 23 to the Chains whichv the chains are attached has one more tooth than.. the coacting or Ydriving inner spur-gear 2l, such outer gear and the chains tastenedpthereto do not travel quite as fast -as-the wheel itself and `hence during each revolution of the wheel the outer gear and its chains lose slightly in suoli travel, and automatically progressively y -change their posit-ions on the tread, thus sub- Yjecting all portions of the latter to even orV equal wear and preventing the possibility oi the chains remaining in one place and wearinvenae ing grooves at lsuch points in the tire. The inner ends ot the chains lag behind, thus automatically Ypreserving their desired Vdiagonal arrangement and, as required by the slow travel oithe chains around the periphery of the wheel, the hooks il slide along and around the hoop or ring 30.

llien these chains come to position between the rubber Vtire and road-way they are held Vby their mountingsfroin substantial Y movement onV the tire, but during their travel when not in contact with the ground their positions are automatically shifted slightly by the positive driving mechanism, yin other words, by the two intermeshing gears with different numbers of teeth rilhis construction has the advantage that short lengt-hs of chain are employed and as these wear out they are easilyand vrelatively economically replaced. The removal or breaking ot chains does not interfere With the satisfactory'and eilicient operation of the remaining ones@ When there is nodangei' oli shidding or `sliding and the traction is adequate', the

chains and their ringgear may 'be' readily removed Vby loosening and. turning the catches or retainers 25, and when the chains Vare needed they andtheirco'mmon gear-ring may be relatively quicklyV replaced. Or, if preferred, the catches 42 may be unliooked 'from their eyes and the inner hooks 4l of the chains released trom the Vsupporting ringV or hoop 30, being replaced in position when needed.

An understanding of thisV Construction and its mode otoperation will indicate to those skilled in this Y'art the accomplishment of all of the above-specified purposes and objects of the'invention, and such persons will appreciate that the Yinvention not limitedL and restricted to theV .precise and exact details of construction because these may be varied wit-hin comparatively wide I limits ywithout departure *from the heart l andressence .of the invention and withoutY Vthe sacrifice of any of its substantial benemore 'extensive Contact with the rubber tire i ice nts and advantages. VStated somewhat differently, the invention issiisceptible ,of a

Vvariety of. different embodiments of which only one. desirable one has been illustrated.

and described in detail, the'scope ot the invention being defined 'and Youtlined by lthe appended claims. Y

I claim: j y l. In an anti-skid appliance of the -character described adapted vforY association with e around and relatively to the tirepsubstanf Y tially` as described.

vehicle-Wheel and its tire, the combination' of anti-skid means adapted to extend across the tread of the vehicle-vvlieel tire at all times that it is associated With the tire, and

positively-acting means actuated by the Wheel adapted to cause said anti-skid means to travel circumferentially around and relatively to the tire, substantially as described.

3. In an anti-skid appliance of the character described adapted for association With a vehicle-Wheel and its tire, the combination ot' anti-skid means adapted to extend across the tread of the vehicle-Wheel tire, and intermeshing gear means causing said antiskid means to travel circumferentially around and relatively to the tire, substantially as described.

4L. In an anti-skid appliance of the charac ter described adapted for association with a vehicle-Wheel and its tire, the combination of antiskid means adapted to extend across the tread of the Vehicle-Wheel tire, and positively-acting means driven by the rotation oi3 the vvheel to cause said anti-skid means to travel circumferentially around and relatively to the wheel comprising intermeshing gears With different numbers of teeth, substantially as described.

5. In an anti-skid appliance of the character described adapted for association vvith a vehicleevvheel and its tire, the combination of anti-skid means adapted to extend across the tread of the vehicle-Wheel tire, and positively-acting means to cause said anti-skid means to travel circumferentially around and relatively to the Wheel comprising an internal gear to which said antiskid means is connected and a gear adapted to be fastened to and revolve With the vehicle-Wheel and in mesh with said internal gear, substantially as described.

6. In an anti-skid appliance of the character described adapted for association With a vehicle-Wheel and its tire, the combination of flexible anti-skid means adapted to extend across the tread of the vehicle-Wheel tire, means to support one end of said antiskid means at one side of the tire and to permit travel thereof around the tire, and means connected to the other end of said anti-skid means at the opposite side of the tire acting to positively cause said anti-skid means to travel circumferentially around and relatively to the tire, substantially as described.

7. In an anti-skid appliance of the character described, adapted for association with a vehicle-Wheel and its tire, the combination of anti-skid means adapted to extend across the tread of the vehicle-Wheel tire, a ring secured to the Wheel with which one end of such anti-skid means has a sliding connection, an internal gear connected to the other end or" said anti-skid means, and a gear adapted to be rotated by the vehicle-Wheel and in mesh with said internal gear positively causing a circumferential travel of said anti-skid means around and relatively to the Wheel'and its tire, substantially as described.

8. An anti-skid appliance of the character described adapted for association With a vehicle-Wheel and its tire, including the combination of a plurality of cross-chains adapted to extend across the tread of the vehicle- Wheel tire, supporting means common to all of said cross-chains, means to positively cause the travel of said supporting means around and relatively to the Wheel, and detachable connections between said crosschains and said supporting means, the latter substantially unchangingly performing its function regardless of the removal of a portion of such cross-chains, substantially as described.

IRA A. WEAVER. 

